Chapter 42 A Night of Drunkenness (Major Revision Required) "Gu Xi, you are..."
A moment later, a pot of pale yellow wine appeared on her table, and the eunuch filled her wine cup.
Gu Xi took another small sip, unsure of what to do. She found the newly served fruit wine to be sweet and sour with a fruity aroma. Her eyes lit up, and she looked up at Xiao Heng with delight, whispering, "This is delicious!" She looked as if she had discovered a treasure, and even the corners of her mouth curved into crescent moons.
Xiao Heng's eyes held an undisguised smile: "Yes, don't overindulge in alcohol."
Gu Xi nodded obediently.
Xiao Che looked at the two people behaving intimately on the throne, his throat slightly dry. He slowly withdrew his gaze, poured wine into his own cup one after another, tilted his head back and drank it all. Before the wine could even reach his throat, the next cup was already in his mouth, and the wine dripped down the corner of his lips without him noticing.
Gu Xiao observed discreetly. He had a feeling that the Emperor knew of Xiao Che's feelings for Gu Xi. He recalled his father telling him that he had sent letters to both him and Xiao Che, trying to prevent Gu Xi from entering the palace, but he hadn't received them. He hadn't told Xiao Che about this, thinking that since things had come to this, knowing wouldn't change anything.
Now it seems, was the loss of that letter not by fate, but by human intervention?
If it was done by someone, was the Emperor acting out of consideration for Xi Jinping or for his family?
With Bai Xingzhi's arrival, the conversation gradually shifted from everyday matters to national affairs. She had wanted to ask her brother and Yao Yao how they were doing, but she didn't have the chance.
She learned from their conversation that the State of Qi was becoming increasingly arrogant, seizing wealthy small states and expelling their people, causing widespread displacement and banditry, and leaving the people homeless.
She is now hidden deep within the palace, completely unaware of what is happening outside.
Then Gu Xiao and Xiao Che talked about how they cleverly captured the enemy camp on the battlefield and how they narrowly escaped death, which made Gu Xi tremble with fear.
At this moment, Xiao Heng would hold her hand and comfort her. She would look up at him, and her heart would gradually calm down.
They talked for a while, and Gu Xi listened attentively while drinking fruit wine, and she also had her own opinions. Xiao Heng would occasionally ask her a few questions, and she would answer them seriously.
But later on, she gradually stopped listening. She felt dizzy and her face was slightly hot. The wine was icy cold, so she drank one glass after another, trying to suppress the heat.
"Your Majesty," Gu Xi said, feeling a little unwell, nudging Xiao Heng who was still talking animatedly, "I'm a little dizzy..." Then she held up three delicate white fingers and asked, "Your Majesty... why do I see three emperors?"
She turned her head and looked at the seats again: "How come there are three brothers? No, I only have one brother... wait..."
As Xiao Heng listened to her rambling, he looked down and noticed that her cheeks were flushed, the color spreading from the corners of her eyes to the tips of her ears. Her gaze seemed to be veiled by a layer of mist, and she clearly looked drunk.
He frowned and asked, "How much did you drink?"
Gu Xi turned her head to look at Xiao Heng and grinned, "Not much..." She gestured with her fingers, "Just a little bit."
Xiao Heng glanced at the wine pot; half of the plum wine was gone. She hadn't drunk much; it was his oversight. He hadn't expected her to have such a low alcohol tolerance.
"I'll take you back first..."
Gu Xi pouted and interrupted, "I don't want to go back, I still want to drink..." As she spoke, she reached for the wine cup again.
Xiao Heng put the wine cup away and said without looking up, "Please make yourselves at home, I must take my leave." With that, he bent down and picked up Gu Xi in his arms.
Startled by being lifted off the ground, Gu Xi's eyelashes trembled slightly. She instinctively shrank into Xiao Heng's arms, her hand unconsciously gripping his sleeve.
"Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty." Gu Xiao's eyes were filled with undisguised worry. He was concerned that Gu Xi might become disrespectful to the Emperor if she got drunk. If he had known this would happen, he would not have let her drink.
Xiao Che stood watching the two figures walk away, still clutching the white jade wine cup he hadn't put down. The thought of what might happen to them later... suddenly tightened in his throat, and he gripped the cup tightly, making a soft "crack" sound. The rim of the white jade cup cracked, and tiny shards of porcelain mixed with drops of blood fell to the ground.
Upon hearing the noise, Bai Xingzhi remained completely unfazed, continuing to savor his tea, wine, and food, as if nothing could disturb him.
With the summer heat in full swing, the plate of stir-fried lotus seeds in front of him looks refreshing and not greasy, making it the perfect match for the height of summer.
He finished the remaining half-cup of wine, picked up his bamboo chopsticks, and tried to pick up the most tender-looking lotus seed in the dish, but the chopsticks slipped lightly when they touched it. He paused, tried again, but the lotus seed rolled down the chopsticks and fell onto the corner of the table.
He looked down at the lotus seed, his once gentle eyes now veiled, making his emotions unreadable.
Xiao Heng carried Gu Xi out of Qianqing Palace, intending to take the palanquin back, but Gu Xi refused to let go. He couldn't put her on the palanquin, so he could only carry her back to Weiyang Palace.
Gu Xi wrapped her arms around Xiao Heng's neck and mumbled, "My head is spinning..."
Xiao Heng glanced down at her and said, "I told you not to drink too much." He then gently lifted Gu Xi and used one hand to adjust the cloak draped over her.
Gu Xi said aggrievedly, "I didn't, I'm just hot..." She just felt too hot and wanted to cool down, so she drank a few more sips.
Upon arriving at Weiyang Palace, Zhuyin quickly fetched a basin of clean water, intending to wipe Gu Xi down.
Unexpectedly, the young lady got drunk on her first time drinking.
Xiao Heng picked up a handkerchief and sat down beside Gu Xi's bed. Without stopping his hand or looking up, he said, "Go get some hangover soup."
"Yes," Zhu Yin replied and left the room.
A few strands of Gu Xi's hair were damp with sweat, and Xiao Heng carefully wiped them away for her, from her forehead down her cheeks, until he reached the corners of her lips, when she suddenly grabbed his hand.
Her eyes were half-closed, and she looked at Xiao Heng with a dreamy gaze, calling out, "Your Majesty..." Her voice was softer than usual.
"I am here." He switched to his other hand and continued what he was doing.
"I am very happy today." A smile appeared on her lips.
"Why are you happy?" He paused. "Is it because of me?"
Gu Xi shook her head, and Xiao Heng stopped.
"It's because of my brother..." Today was the happiest day she had had in a long time, because she not only saw her brother, but could also sit and eat with him like they used to at home. It was as if as long as her brother was there, all problems disappeared, and she could still be the carefree person she used to be at the Gu family.
She no longer needs to worry about being framed, distrusted, or betrayed; those she treats with sincerity also treat her with sincerity.
Xiao Heng felt a pang of jealousy upon hearing her answer, realizing that she only listened to Gu Xiao about whether or not to drink, but not to him.
Although he was her brother.
After feeding Gu Xi the hangover soup, Xiao Heng took off his outer clothes, held her, and prepared to go to sleep.
But the heat emanating from her body burned him like fire, and she would occasionally wriggle into his arms, whispering her name in his ear.
He felt that his already limited self-control when facing her was about to be completely exhausted by her.
He finally couldn't hold back any longer, pinned her down, and kissed her.
After drinking, Gu Xi was no longer as shy as usual, and responded to him with enthusiasm and boldness.
As their lips intertwined, even the tip of their tongues was filled with the aroma of fruit wine, yet he felt that she was even more intoxicating than that sweet wine.
He placed his palms down and set fire to her body all over, and she instantly turned into a pool of spring water.
Gu Xi felt every pore on her body open up, and a strange sensation spread throughout her body, causing her to uncontrollably let out soft moans.
At the crucial moment, Xiao Heng suddenly stopped, but Gu Xi was unhappy about it.
He said in a hoarse voice, "You're drunk. We'll talk about it when you're sober..."
"But I want it, is that not allowed?" At this moment, her face was flushed, her nose was covered with a thin layer of sweat, and she was biting her lower lip with her pearly teeth, looking at him with an innocent expression.
Xiao Heng's eyes immediately turned bloodshot. He was already struggling to hold back, and she was still teasing him like this!
Xiao Heng asked in a hoarse voice, "Gu Xi, do you see clearly who I am?"
Gu Xi blinked, looking completely bewildered: "Yes, I see clearly now, you are the Emperor..."
Xiao Heng whispered in her ear, "Gu Xi, have you forgotten about me?"
Gu Xi shook her head: "I haven't forgotten."
"Then who am I?"
Gu Xi thought for a moment and said, "You are my husband..."
"Is there anything else?" Xiao Heng continued to ask.
Gu Xi shook her head.
Gu Xi, you really have forgotten about me.
It's alright, I will make you remember me again.
Xiao Heng could no longer hold back. He brushed the sweat-dampened hair from her forehead, lowered his head and continued kissing her, murmuring, "Gu Xi, remember this, you belong to me."
"Yes, Your Majesty's concubine is..." Gu Xi replied, her voice as soft as freshly melted honey.
"Then is Your Majesty mine?"
Before Xiao Heng could answer, she continued, "Yes and no... Your Majesty has many other people besides me, this is not fair." As she spoke, her voice gradually became choked with sobs, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
She also wanted him to only have her.
She seems to have become greedy.
Xiao Heng was stunned for a moment.
Gu Xi, do you also have a little bit of affection for me?
He kissed away the tears from the corner of her eyes and said, "I only have you. They are all fake."
"Am I also an imposter?" she asked doubtfully.
No, only you are real.
"Really?" she asked innocently.
"real."
After hearing the answer, Gu Xi fell asleep contentedly.
Your Majesty, don't lie to me, I'll believe you.
Xiao Heng looked at the sleeping person in his arms and felt rather helpless. She was only concerned with starting the fire but not putting it out. How was he going to get through the night?
*
The next morning.
Gu Xi woke up with a splitting headache.
She sat up, shaking her head. What happened last night? Wasn't she having a family banquet at the Qianqing Palace?
When did she return to Weiyang Palace? She couldn't remember at all.
The door was suddenly pushed open.
"Awake?" Xiao Heng strode towards her, still wearing his court robes, indicating he had just finished the morning court session.
"Your Majesty, was I drunk last night? I can't remember anything." Gu Xi asked, looking confused.
"Can't you remember anything at all?" Xiao Heng asked after a moment's thought.
Gu Xi nodded.
Seeing her troubled expression, Xiao Heng said, "If you can't remember, don't think about it. Let's eat first."
"Hmm." With that, the two arrived at the main room of the sleeping quarters.
"After we finish eating, come with me to Cining Palace," Xiao Heng suddenly said.
"Are you going to tell the Empress Dowager about the upcoming trip?" Gu Xi lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
"Mm," Xiao Heng replied.
After a moment, he suddenly remembered something and said, "From now on, you must not call Xiao Che that again."
Gu Xi looked up in confusion: "What?"
“You should call him Sixth Brother, just like I do,” Xiao Heng said matter-of-factly.
Gu Xi choked for a moment. Xiao Che was a few years older than her. She had always regarded him as her older brother. It would be too awkward to suddenly change her address to "sixth brother".
She came up with a compromise and tentatively asked, "May I call him the Sixth Prince?" She really couldn't bring herself to call him her sixth brother.
Xiao Heng glanced at her and hummed in response.
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Author's Note: Chapters 40-42 have been completely revised. Both the author and the male lead were possessed in the previous chapters, almost causing their characters to collapse. For those who have read them, just consider it a dream the female lead had. [Laughing and crying with facepalm]
I apologize to my readers; the author's skill is limited, please forgive me.
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